FT SeriesHow to host a cocktail partyFour creatives open their doors to an unforgettable season for HTSI© Weston WellsAshley Longshore: ‘All the real magic happens after midnight’The multimedia artist brings elevated kitsch to a New York gallery gatheringRyan Chetiyawardana creates a ‘house party’ mood at his Thameside bar‘Serving Martinis to a big group loses its finesse quite quickly’Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch: ‘We never want people to feel like they have to leave’The founders of Roman and Williams and RW Guild take the festivities outside at their Montauk homeAlex Eagle: ‘It’s cosy, which really works with the gothic vibe’The creative director opens the stately Oakley Court to a wide circle of friendsThe expert guide to dinner-party etiquetteWhat to serve? How to sit? And when to start washing up? We asked top hosts for their entertaining dos and don’tsGet the party started – eveningwear to dazzle inHow to celebrate it, on the dancefloor and beyond
